A Reversal Of Fortune

July 17, 1998

Only last month, state Sen. James T. Fleming of Simsbury was plotting the overthrow of Senate Republican leader M. Adela Eads of Kent. On Wednesday, Mr. Fleming, an 18-year veteran of the legislature, announced his retirement for the time-honored reasons -- ``to devote more time to my job and to my family.''

How quickly fortunes can change.

Regardless of the circumstances prompting his retirement, the 8th District is losing a good senator.

Mr. Fleming denies that the failed attempt to persuade Mrs. Eads not to seek another term as Senate Republican leader had anything to do with his decision to quit.

But clearly he would have been in a diminished position. Mrs. Eads emerged stronger than ever from the coup attempt. She will seek re-election and the caucus leadership position again. Most of the Republican hierarchy, including Gov. John G. Rowland, is with her.

Mr. Fleming was caught in the embarrassing position of lacking the support among other Republicans that he thought he had.

Even successful plotters don't like to go back to the ranks. Richard Balducci, who replaced state House Speaker Irving Stolberg in a bipartisan coup in January 1989 moved up to the Senate after his time as speaker was over rather than return to the House. Others who gamble and lose -- such as U.S. Rep. Bill Paxson, the rising Republican star from New York who was in on the cabal that tried to topple House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- go back to private life, like Mr. Fleming.

One theory is that Mr. Fleming was set up by Republican colleagues who simply wanted to send a message to Mrs. Eads, telling her to more combatively represent the GOP caucus as its spokeswoman and leader. That message was delivered, according to this scenario, even if Mr. Fleming was sacrificed in the process.

Mr. Fleming's constituents may care less about the details of intrigue than what it has cost them: a good, albeit too ambitious, moderate senator who had passion for his job, a high regard for public service and an honest, direct way of dealing with people.